Altria Group, Inc. Holds 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders |
EAST HANOVER, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 26, 2007--Altria Group,
Inc. (NYSE: MO) held its 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders here
today, and its chairman and chief executive officer Louis C. Camilleri
told an audience of approximately 200 shareholders that the company
remains as committed as ever to meaningfully enhance long-term
shareholder value.
"Over the next several months, we will continue to carefully and
diligently examine the benefits of a spin-off of Philip Morris
International and other possible value-enhancing options to decide the
optimal long-term strategic course to follow," Mr. Camilleri said.
"Once a decision has been made, we will promptly communicate it."
"The highlight of the past year was undoubtedly the spin-off of
Kraft Foods, which we completed on March 30," Mr. Camilleri said.
"Achievements on the litigation front over the past year were
particularly noteworthy, and confirmed our successful record in the
appellate courts."
"This is an exciting time for Altria. Our tobacco operating
companies have some of the world's most valuable tobacco brands, led
by Marlboro. Our financial resources provide us with a significant
competitive advantage, and Altria enjoys a very strong balance sheet,"
Mr. Camilleri said. "Our ability to generate cash flow remains
undiminished. Over the four-year period from 2006 through 2009, we
project that cash flow will reach a cumulative level of some $41
billion, and we plan to continue using our strong cash flow to reward
our shareholders."
At the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, with approximately 86.7% of
the shares entitled to vote represented at the meeting in person or by
proxy, the 11 nominees named in the proxy statement were elected
directors; the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors was
ratified; and five shareholder proposals were defeated.
A replay of the audio webcast of the Altria Group, Inc. 2007
Annual Meeting of Shareholders is available at www.altria.com until
approximately 5 p.m. Eastern Time on May 25, 2007.
Altria Group, Inc. Profile
As of March 31, 2007, Altria Group, Inc. owned 100% of Philip
Morris International Inc., Philip Morris USA Inc. and Philip Morris
Capital Corporation, and approximately 28.6% of SABMiller plc. The
brand portfolio of Altria Group, Inc.'s tobacco operating companies
includes such well-known names as Marlboro, L&M, Parliament and
Virginia Slims. Altria Group, Inc. (ex-Kraft) recorded 2006 net
revenues from continuing operations of $67.1 billion.
Trademarks and service marks mentioned in this release are the
registered property of, or licensed by, the subsidiaries of Altria
Group, Inc.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This press release contains projections of future results and
other forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and
uncertainties and are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor Provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The following
important factors could cause actual results and outcomes to differ
materially from those contained in such forward-looking statements.
Altria Group, Inc.'s tobacco subsidiaries (Philip Morris USA and
Philip Morris International) are subject to intense price competition;
changes in consumer preferences and demand for their products;
fluctuations in levels of customer inventories; the effects of foreign
economies and local economic and market conditions; unfavorable
currency movements and changes to income tax laws. Their results are
dependent upon their continued ability to promote brand equity
successfully; to anticipate and respond to new consumer trends; to
develop new products and markets and to broaden brand portfolios in
order to compete effectively with lower-priced products; and to
improve productivity.
Altria Group, Inc.'s tobacco subsidiaries continue to be subject
to litigation, including risks associated with adverse jury and
judicial determinations, and courts reaching conclusions at variance
with the company's understanding of applicable law and bonding
requirements in the limited number of jurisdictions that do not limit
the dollar amount of appeal bonds; legislation, including actual and
potential excise tax increases; discriminatory excise tax structures;
increasing marketing and regulatory restrictions; the effects of price
increases related to excise tax increases and concluded tobacco
litigation settlements on consumption rates and consumer preferences
within price segments; health concerns relating to the use of tobacco
products and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke; governmental
regulation; privately imposed smoking restrictions; and governmental
and grand jury investigations.
Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries are subject to other risks
detailed from time to time in its publicly filed documents, including
its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2006.
Altria Group, Inc. cautions that the foregoing list of important
factors is not complete and does not undertake to update any
forward-looking statements that it may make.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Preliminary voting results follow. Final voting
results will be included in the Company's first-quarter 2007 10-Q
filing. The text of Mr. Camilleri's Business Review presentation from
today's meeting is available at www.altria.com.
Preliminary Voting Results
2007 Altria Group, Inc. Annual Meeting of Shareholders
-- At the Annual Meeting of Shareholders, held at the Kraft Foods Inc.
Robert M. Schaeberle Technology Center in East Hanover, N.J., on
April 26, 2007, 86.7% of the outstanding shares were represented in
person or by proxy.
-- Each of the 11 nominees for director named in the company's proxy
statement was elected to a one-year term.
-- The selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors was
ratified.
-- Of the five shareholder proposals presented at the meeting, all
were defeated:
Proposal One: "Cumulative Voting"
Defeated - 25.1% of the shares voting on the proposal voted in
favor; 74.9% voted against.
Proposal Two: "Informing Children of Their Rights If Forced to
Incur Secondhand Smoke"
Defeated - 3.7% of the shares voting on the proposal voted in
favor; 96.3% voted against.
Proposal Three: "Stop All Company-Sponsored 'Campaigns' Allegedly
Oriented to Prevent Youth From Smoking"
Defeated - 3.3% of the shares voting on the proposal voted in
favor; 96.7% voted against.
Proposal Four: "Get Out of Traditional Tobacco Business By 2010"
Defeated - 1.1% of the shares voting on the proposal voted in
favor; 98.9% voted against.
Proposal Five: "Animal Welfare Policy"
Defeated - 4.0% of the shares voting on the proposal voted in
favor; 96.0% voted against.
CONTACT: Altria Media Affairs
917-663-2144
SOURCE: Altria Group, Inc.
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